Maravi

Mutharika must go – Muluzi

Mutharika must go – Muluzi
Written by Chibaula Silwamba
Monday, April 13, 2009 4:04:51 AM

FORMER president of Malawi Bakili Muluzi yesterday said he feels betrayed by his successor Bingu Wa Mutharika and vowed that “Mutharika must go” after next month's elections.

In a telephone interview from Lilongwe in Malawi, Muluzi, whose presidential candidature for the opposition United Democratic Front (UDF) is shrouded in uncertainty after the Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) disqualified him, said his party was working with other opposition political parties to ensure that President Mutharika was voted out of power.

“He [Mutharika] is the man who was voted in by the UDF, United Democratic Front; he leaves the party in a very abnormal manner. You don't leave a party that ushered you into power. To me there is no personal difference with Mutharika. It's just because of his personal conduct that is why I am very disgusted with whatever happened; come the next election he must go,” Muluzi said. “I am saying we in the opposition are so determined that come the next elections he must go as President of this country.”

Asked if he felt betrayed by Mutharika's opposition to his candidature, Muluzi responded: “Of course we feel betrayed. I mean how would you feel yourself? I mean here is the man who came into power through our party, and that you create a party through a window. I mean it is never done anywhere. So, not only me, but I am talking about the supporters of UDF. Yes, I feel very much betrayed. You don't conduct yourself in that manner.”

Muluzi said his lawyers had filed a fresh application in court to challenge the MEC's decision to disqualify him.

“You might have read or heard that the Malawi Electoral Commission did indeed say that they have disallowed me. My legal team has refused that because it's not true,” Muluzi said. “So that has been argued; it is not correct and it is the duty of the Malawi Electoral Commission to run elections and not to interpret the Constitution. So we have challenged that decision because we think it is not correct. I have filed a fresh application.”

Asked whether his party's decision to start negotiations with John Tembo's opposition Malawi Congress Party (MCP) for a possible formation of an electoral alliance is an indication that he will withdraw his candidature and support Tembo, Muluzi said that was not the aim.

“It doesn't mean that. But we must be talking as political parties. We are talking and see how we can work together. There is a technical team we have appointed from both parties and that technical team is meeting to discuss how this thing is going to work,” Muluzi said. “We feel that a combination of two big political parties in this country will bring in the results which will see President Mutharika not winning the elections. There is no way the UDF and MCP can have a working relationship and lose the election. It's not possible. This is a very formidable alliance between the two political parties.”

But Muluzi's top aide Humphrey Mvula disclosed that he was likely to withdraw from the race and support Tembo considering the short time remaining before elections.

“Obviously given the time frame which we have the possibility and the most likely situation is John Tembo to be presidential candidate in the elections. John Tembo would be a presidential candidate,” said Mvula, who is UDF's national director of research, in a telephone interview from Lilongwe. “Yes, the gist of the discussions is about working out an electoral coalition where the two parties can work together in the election from a common premise or common stand, to field one candidate.”

He said if the court ruled that Muluzi could not stand then Tembo would be the candidate for the electoral coalition.

“This coalition is the biggest,” said Mvula. “We have a lot of members of UDF and cannot boycott the elections.”

Presidential candidates for Malawi's May 19, 2009 elections include the only female Loveness Gondwe (New Rainbow Coalition), Mutharika (DPP), Tembo (MCP), James Nyondo (independent), Stanley Masauli (Republican Party), Dindi Gowa Nyasulu (Alliance for Democracy) and Kamuzu Chibambo ( PETRA).

Muluzi, who was the main opponent of President Mutharika in the elections, was disqualified on March 20, 2009 by the MEC because he has already served as president of Malawi for two consecutive terms.

However, Muluzi is challenging the MEC's decision in court arguing that after serving for two consecutive terms he could re-contest the presidency because he had a break.

Malawi will also hold parliamentary elections on the same day.

Labels: BAKILI MULUZI, BINGU WA MUTHARIKA

posted by MrK @ 3:05 AM